Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he hopes President Obama “goes real big” with an executive order on immigration if the House doesn’t act in the short time Congress is in session before midterm elections.
“This is an example of why we should have done comprehensive immigration reform that we passed here more than a year ago,” Reid said outside of a closed policy luncheon today when asked about the decision to delay executive action as vulnerable Senate Democrats face re-election contests. “The president has stated he’s going to do something administratively, unless there’s legislative action taken. It appears to me, based on what we have been told and what I see, the Republicans still have a chance to do something.”
“They complain, they grieve, they stomp. Why should the president do anything administratively?” Reid told reporters. “Let’s do it legislatively. They’ll have another chance to do it legislatively. If they don’t, I hope the president goes real big and does something administratively, which I believe he has the authority to do.”
Reid was asked if there’s any chance that repeal efforts for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program would come to the floor.
“Well, if I have anything to do with it, no. No, no.”
He was asked about the likelihood of Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) insisting on blocking the deferred action program in the next continuing resolution.
“They have every right to do whatever they want legislatively,” Reid replied. “If they want to be the lead team of shutting down the government, that’s what they’re going to have to do.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), in his own press conference, was noncommittal to Cruz’s proposal.
“We’re going to wait and see what the House sends over. I think they’re going to act this week. And when we see what they send over, we’ll take a look at it,” McConnell said.
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